“For centuries men have been meeting and sitting in circle.” I have heard that statement, or variations on it, many times over the last few years. It is a statement that rings true to me to the depth of my being, as though it is touching into something that is at our core.

What has caused me to hear those words uttered so many times? Because I have been sitting in circle with men for the last three years. They are spoken most often when new men venture forth, as that is how it feels, to make this new commitment, to explore this ancient ritual. It might not be the call of “an ancient ritual” which brings men to a circle. I would say that more often than not, it is a search. Something is not working in their lives and all the solutions that they have turned to so far have, at some point, hit a dead end….or more simply, something is just missing in their lives.

I would not be so brash as to suggest that a man sitting in a circle with other men will solve all his problems. However, I would say that their is a power emergent, like tapping into something ancient, when a group of men meet to share and discuss what is on their mind and in their hearts, all held within the spirit of a circle that is respecting confidence and trust.

This journey for me has taken me to a “Men’s Mentoring” circle in the local jail. The proof of the pudding is in eating it, and in the space that my fellow facilitators and I hold there, I have seen the transformation of so many men. It feels like a gift to be able to be there.

Is someone able to help when what I world call a formatting question when I post to micro.blog? How do I get text to start a new line, posting either via the web interface or with the OSX or iOS apps? Thinking especially when I am quoting text. Thanks in advance.

I saw the Green Book last night with my wife. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. Great performances from Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. A well told story that has just sat with me in a very pleasant way since yesterday evening.🍿

I’m finding that the Discover tab in Sunlit is showing the same photos always. I have the new version of Sunlit installed. Deleted the app & reinstalled, refreshed the Discover tab…no change. Anything to do with number of people posting pics? //@manton & @cheesemaker

Perhaps I am being impatient, but one of my posts appears to have disappeared into the ether

I had been commenting how the Pe’ahi Challenge was cancelled today during the men’s competition because the waves got too big! This is a competition where 40 or 60 foot waves are not unusual. Despite my “non-surfer” status, this competition/phenomena really fascinates me.

In this video, taken in a boat by the waves and from a helicopter flying above them, you can really see the power of the waves, and the danger that the men and women put themselves under by surfing these giants, Jaws: Men’s Top Three Waves.

Zooming in, as best I can with an iPhone on a cliff, on Jaws at the Pe’ahi Challenge three years ago in 2016. That little line on the right is a surfer on the wave…and note the yellow helicopter flying by the wave (in the middle).

I am no surfer, but the Pe’ahi Challenge, otherwise known as Jaws , bears watching at least once just for the shear audacity of the surfers competing. Every winter a swell hits the island of Maui causing a wave phenomena nicknamed Jaws, so called due to the unpredictability of the the sudden huge waves, up to 60 feet (18m), that break at this remote spot on the island’s shore.

From my understanding the unpredictability is less these days, as the surfers and competition holders can scan maps and satellite imagery to predict when the waves are going to hit. It is not unusual to hear the surfing community speaking about “a big swell” that will be hitting the island in a couple of days. Over the last couple of days the big wave surfers have been arriving on the island and today was day one of the challenge with the winner of the women’s event being won by Keala Kennelly. Tomorrow the men will be surfing.

At times the power of the waves is so strong that the surfers have to be towed in by jet ski, but increasingly they are paddling in. Jet skies are constantly circling in the zone where the waves break to catch surfers that wipe out. Surf boards can be split in two, and even jet skies can over turn if the riders don’t get out of the way quick enough while trying to rescue a surfer.

Nowadays Jaws has become quite the event. Understandably so, it is quite something to see those tiny specs surfing down the face of the massive waves. However to get out to the viewing area, which is the cliffs overlooking the wave break, means a trek down a dirty (mud or dust), rutty road. And with the number of people wanting to spectate these days, rows of cars parked along the side of the road, for me it is questionable whether it is worth heading out there. As ever, these days the internet or television provide options. Here’s the website for the competition, the 2018 Jaws Challenge - World Surf League.